Light-operated apparatus



Jan. 8, 1929.

l. E. M CABE LIGHT OPERATED APPARATUS Filed Sept. 13, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet '1IIMIl/II I/II/II/III/IIWMI INVENTOR. f IRA 51M CABE A T'TORNEYS.

Jan. 8, 1929.

I. E. M CABE LIGHT OPERATED APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 13, 1926 IN VEN TOR. IRA E M CABE BY M M ATTORNEYS.

Jan, 8, 1929. 1,697,986

I. E. MCCABE LIGHT OPERATED APPARATUS Filed Sept. 15, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 8, 1925;.

UNITED STATES IRA. E. MGCAIBE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

' msn'r-ornna'rnn ArrARA'rUs.

Continuation of application Serial No.

' Thisinvention relates to improvements in light-actuatedapparatus for the operation of switches, valves and like devices.

It isan object of this invention to provide a simple, inexpensive and reliable device which, when subjected to the rays of visible light, will operate to throw a switch, rotate a valve or impart the initial movement required to operate devices such as elec tric signals, electric sign flashing devices. electric alarms, fire extinguishers, liquid and gaseous feed controls and likedevioes.

While noclaim is made herein to the broad idea of applying the absorption of visible light to accomplish physical work, the

'means and manner of accomplishing such another form of "'133,6$, filed September 7, 1926, describing resultas hereinafter described is considered a continuing invention and further improvements upon that described in my prior pend ing application, Serial No. 133,868 filed September 7, 1926. I

The accompanying sheets 'of drawing 11- lustratethepreferable embodiments of this invention, however, minor changes may be made to such embodiments without departs ingfrom the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a v ew in front elevation looking into a switch box casing-embodying this invention and illustrating the operating parts in central vertical section.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of Figure 1 with the walls of the casing in section. I

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation looking into an electric switch casing illustrating switch operating mechanism. p

Figure 4 is a view in transverse section through the center of- Figure 3 with parts broken away. v

Figure 5'is a view similar to Figure 1 of a valve operating device.

Figure 6 is .a view in transverse vertical section of Figure 5.

Figure7-is a detail view in section taken on line 5-5 of Figure-6. t

Figure 8- is a view similar to Figure 5 showlng another type of valve.

Figure 9 is a detailview in section taken on line.99 of Figure 8. p g As set forth bove, this iIlVGIItlOIl 1s a continuation ofthe invention disclosed in my prior pending. application, Serial No.

' secured centra 183,868, filed September 7, 1926. This application filed September 13, 1926. Serial No. 135,064.

a method and means for transmitting the energy of visible light rays to perform physical work. This invention relates to the application of this principle to impart initial movement to devices for opening and closing electric circuits and other lluid lines.

Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of this invention as applied to a mechanism for opening and closing an electrical circuit and comprises a casing 1 having binding posts 2 mounted on the rear-.wall 3 adapted to connect a mercury tube switch 4 in the circuit i to be controlled. Thislswitch is of the commercial form, comprising a sealed glass tube containing sufficient mercury to close the circuit between two elecfrodes entering one end thereof when the tube is'tiltedin that direction and to break the circuit when the tube is tilted in the opposite direction. The switch 4 is mounted on a tilting sup ort preferably comprising a late 5 mounte for rotation upon a centrally arranged pivot point 6 fixed to the rear wall of the casing 3 and the amount of rotation thereabout is limited in each direction by the lower corner of the plate 5 contacting with the bottom wall of the casing.

The tilting'plate 5 is normally held at one end of'itsmovement and caused to rotate about its pivot to the other end of its movement by mounting thereon two sealed gas containers 7 and 8, preferably of glass, joined attheir bottoms by a restricted or tubular connection 9, preferably of the same material, connecting with the interiors thereof. The enlarged containers 7 and 8 are preferably similar in shape to the commer-- cial electric light bulb and are secured adjacent each end of the plate by clips 10 mountedthereon while the interconnecting portion 9' and mercury tube switch 4 are preferablysupported on plate 5 by clips 11 ly thereon below its pivot point.' A liqui seal 12 adapted to flow through the connecting portion 9 from one bulb to the other is placed therein before the bulbs are sealed. This seal may be of any suitable liquid having sufiicient weight and volume to accomplish its purpose. As above stated, it is preferable to form the apparatus 7' and 8 and their connectin portion 9 of glass and in accordance as this invention one bulb is formed of a colored glass adapted to absorb moreenergy from the rays of visible light, than the other bulb 8 and the liquid seal 12 is so arranged before the bulbs 7 and 8 are sealed that the majority of the liquid 12 is contained in and adjacent the bulb 7 whereby the plate 5 in the absence of visible light is normally tilted to the end of its movement in the direction of bulb 7. When rays of visible light enter directly into casi'n g 1 and'fall upon the bulbs 7 and 8 the colored bulb 7, on account of the medium of which it is constructed,- absorbs more energy ironithe light rays impinging upon it than bulb'8 so that the temper .ature of its walls is increased'over that of plate will be caused to rotate about its pivot ii ht.

until the corner below bulb 8 encounters the. bottom wall of the casing. 'Likewis'e,'upon the removal of the source oflight,] the increased temperature of thewalls of bulb 7 will be radiated into the surrounding atmosphere, decreasing the internal pressure there in, whereupon the liquid will be returned to its original normal position by the pressure in bulb 8 and the plate caused by the weight of liquid 12 to rotate about the pivot to its ori inal or normal position. he terminals of mercury switch 4 are preferably connected by flexible leads 14 to the-binding posts 2 and the tube is inserted in its suppotring clips 11 with its terminals adjacent bulb 8, if the circuit is to be closed by exposing the switch to visible light, and with its terminals adjacent bulb 7 is the circuit to be normally closed and opened when the switch is ekposed to visible n the'remain'ing 'figures of the drawing similar reference this pivot adjusted by the set screws '15 arranged L in .the bottom walls adaptedto be engaged by the bottom corners ofthe plate at each end of is movement. In this form, the terminals of the mercur 7 so that the circuit is normally closed and visible light.

numerals are applied to indicate similar parts.

of the casingwill be opened when the switch-is exposed to In the construction illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, plate 5 may be so adjusted as to alter the time of operation after exposure to visible light, as well as the ti1ne of returning to normal upon the removal of the source of light, and also they rapidity of rotation of the supporting plate 5 after the initial movement has been imparted to it, as well as the momentum of such movement, to meet the varying conditions and require- .ments of the various uses to which this device is adapted, by the proper adjustment of the set screws 15 in the bottomcasing and the independent adjustment of the plate- 5 upon its pivot shaft 6 Figures 5, 6,.and' 7 illustrate an embodiment of this invention as applied to operate a fluid line valve. In this case the pivot 6 or the carrying plate 5 is rotatedly mountedin bcariz'igs in a U-shaped bracket (3 secured to the bottom and rear walls of casing 1 and is in the form of a shaft having itsrear end enlarged forming a shoulder 16 adjacent which the carrying plate is secured by nut- 17 engaging a screw threaded portion of the shaft so that the shaft rotates with the tilting of plate This enlarged portion of the shaft extends through thc rear wall 3 of the casing and is formed integral with, or secured to, a rotatable valve head 18 mounted in concentric seat within a valve casing 19 preferably provided on its forward end with a reduced shoulder portion 20 also passing through the rear wall 3 of the easmg and rear arm of the U-shaped bracket .6 and secured in place, and securing the bracket arm to the rear casing wall, bya nut 21, said valve casing forming a bearing forthe rear end of the shaft 6. The valve head 18 isprovided with a port 22 passing diametrically therethrough and ada ted to register with ports opening into housings 23 in the valve casing which'receive the tubes 24 of the fluidto be controlled. Since the nut 17 allows an adjustment of the plate 5 upon shaft 6, the desired relation between port 22i the tubes 24 and plate 5-is readily establis ed.. p

Figures 8 and 9'illustrate aform of this device similar to that shown and described in Figures 5, 6, and 7 differing only in the type of valve enclosed in casing 19. In this case the cylindricalchamber 25 within the casing 19 is closed at its exterior end -by a screw plug 26 and at its opposite end by a circular plate 27 formed integral with or secured to the shoulder portion 16 of the shaft 6' and adapted to rotate in a seatformed inthe valve casing. The tubes 24- of the fluid'line enter the chamber 25 at I I y rightangles to each other with. the vertical tube switch 4 are adjacent" the colored bulb onepreferably entering the bottom of .the

iao

ter line. of the chamber which is preferably provided with a corresponding opening at the upper side therein. A reciprocating valve stem 28 having a head 29 adapted to be seated upon the port opening into the housing of the vertical tube 24 is aided by a screw threaded sleeve 30' threadet l into the upper opening and is provided with. an outstanding collar 31 intermediate its length which is adapted to be engaged by a stud 32 carried on plate 27 near its circumference, so that when the plate is rotated to cause the stud to engage theunderside of the collar 31, the valve head is lifted from its seat and when the plate is rotated in the-opposite direction the valve will be seated by lts own weight aided by the pressure of the fluid line also the horizontal tube 24. If the flow of the fluid line is in the opposite direction, the shaft 26 is so adjusted that stud 32 will normally engage the upper side of the collar 30 and upon rotation in that direction will seat the valve and upon rotation in the opposite direction will pass out of contact and allow the flow of the fluid line to list the stem 38 andunseat the valve. Since the stud 32 isrotatable with shaft 6 which is adjustably secured to the carrying plate 5, the desired relation between plate 5, shaft 6 and stud 32 may be readily established. While this device is' illustrated and described with the containers separated equidistantly from a pivot point, it is to be understood that the movement of the liquid from adjacent each container to adjacent the other imparts a movement to the device which movement is employed to accomplish the desired work irrespective of the manner in which the containers are separated.

What I claim is: e

. A light/operated control means, comprising two spaced apart interconnected glass containers having a liquid seal with a balance of pressure on each side thereof with said seal normally adjacent one container, the walls of which are of a colored glass adapted upon exposure to visible light to transmute more energy from the absorbed rays of the visible spectrum than the other container, which absorbed energy acts to increase the internal pressure within that con tainer and move the liquid seal in the direction of the other container, a pivoted carrying plate mounting such containers equidistantly from the pivot point, and a valve in a liquid fuel line adapted to be controlled by a rotatable head operatedly connected to the carrying plate and having a stud mounted thereon adjacent its edge coacting with a collar upon a reciprocating valve stem to open the line as the plate is tilted from one side to the other about its pivotal point upon movement of the liquid seal and allow the closing of the line as the plate is tilted in the opposite direction.

- IRA E. MoGABE. 

